UK Grassroots Concussion Course
For coaches, teachers, parents and carers, players, students, referees, officials, volunteers and club welfare teams. The course follows the four-module UK grassroots learning structure and anchors every safety decision to the current UK-wide guidance.
Safety rules reflect the November 2024 UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite (Grassroots) Sport.
The learning pathway adapts the licensed Complete Concussions UK grassroots course structure within GWAS Concussion Training.
The course separates what coaches, parents, players, officials and healthcare professionals should actually do.
- Explain why concussion is treated as a brain injury and is not graded.
- Apply immediate removal and no same-day return when concussion is suspected.
- Know when NHS 111, an onsite healthcare professional, A&E or 999 is appropriate.
- Understand that return to education or work takes priority over return to sport.
The core rule
At grassroots level, the safest decision is made on suspicion rather than certainty. One credible sign or symptom is enough to remove the person from the activity. A coach, parent, teacher, official or teammate is not expected to diagnose concussion.
- •If in doubt, sit them out.
- •Remove the participant immediately and safely.
- •Do not allow return to sport on the same day; there should be no competition, training or PE within the first 24 hours after suspected concussion.
- •Arrange assessment by an appropriate onsite healthcare professional or access NHS 111 within 24 hours.
What happens after removal
Concussion can be subtle and symptoms can evolve. Removal is the start of the safety process, not the end of it.
- •Monitor for deterioration and emergency red flags.
- •Ensure a responsible adult can supervise the person after the incident.
- •For under-18s, inform the parent or guardian.
- •Record the incident using the club, school or organisation process.
- •Education or work recovery comes before unrestricted sport.
Return thresholds
The UK grassroots guidance uses a graduated return to activity and sport process. It is not a fixed countdown to automatic clearance.
- •There is no return to competition before day 21, with the day of injury counted as day 0.
- •Training with a predictable risk of head impact requires at least 14 days symptom-free at rest and completion of the earlier stages.
- •Symptoms that deteriorate or do not improve by 14 days warrant NHS advice via 111.
- •Symptoms continuing beyond 28 days should be reviewed through the GP pathway.
Each module unlocks after the previous module check is answered correctly.
Course structure: Complete Concussions — UK Grassroots Concussion Course, used within the licensed GWAS integration. Clinical safety content is aligned to the UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite (Grassroots) Sport, November 2024.